Method of and apparatus for manufacturing electric lamps



Dec. 10, 1935; v, H. VAN SANT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURINGELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct.

10, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 10, 1935. v. H. VAN SANT 2,023,628

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELEQTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10,1929 l3 SheetS -Sheet 5 A Dec. 10, 1935. v v. H. VAN SANT 2,023,628

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10,1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 3&0 35:5 m

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METHOD OF AND APPARATU FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10,1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 10, 1935. v. H. IVAN SANT 2,023,628

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10;1929 15 Sheets-Sheet '7 7 m. WNW

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METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10,1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 [Jill/1111111711111,

Maw- Dec. 10, 1935. v. H. VAN SANT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10, 1929 1.3 Sheets-Sheet l0//W2/7/a/ V/z'fa/ A! Van 62/22 H2 2 a j g 9 w 3 MW m M /5 Z zmflg 3/ w 4Z F I 2 2 2d a 2 7 Z (AW. 6 4 3 3 2 2 w 2 2 2 3 2 V 2 \iu 9. Rw. I llhl/l v ll 1935- v. H. VAN SANT 2,023,628 v METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10, 1929 Sheets-Sheet ll,

Dec. 10, 1935. v. H. VAN SANT 2,023,628

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Oct. 10,1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 6/739.

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10, 1935. v. H. VAN SANT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURINGELECTRIC LAMPS 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Oct. 10, 1929 Patented Dec. in,1935 PATENT, OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANU-FACTURING'ELECTRIC'LAMPS Victor B. van Sant, Brookfield, m, assignor aWestern Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York 7 Application October 10, 1929, Serial No. 398,710

32 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of electric lamps, and moreparticularly to apparatus for assembling, sealing-in, and exhaustingelectric lamps.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatuswhereby electric lamps of an improved and uniform quality maybe.manufactured economically and with a minimum' amount of manual labor.

An apparatus embodying the features of the invention comprises asealing-in section and an exhausting section, each consisting of arotatable circular carrier, mounted side-by-side, and having a pluralityof individual work receiving and supporting units adapted. to beadvanced synchronously'and intermittently to a plurality of successivepositions by means of a'common drive mechanism, In the sealing-insection of the apparatus, the bulb and the stem assembly are assembledand sealed together in an inverted position and a constriction is formedin the stem at a point adjacent to the seal to facilitate the finaltipping on operation. A transfer mecha-. nism isprovided for removingthe sealedin lamp from the final-position of the sealing-in section I ofthe" apparatus and for inserting it, in an upright position, in the"exhausting section of the apparatus, wherein the lamp iseva'cuated.During the exhausting operation the lamps are through an electricallyheated oven which heats-the glass parts to a temperature just. below themelting point of glass. This isfor the purpose of driving. off occludedgases from the in-- term! surfaceof the glass. After the lamp has beenpartially evacuated, the filament is heated to incandescence' byelectrical current connected thereto'through the medium of a distributorand suitable contactor's on each exhausting unit in order to drive offoccluded gases from the filament. An automatic torch is provided fortipping-off the evacuated lamp by fusing the stem at the previouslyconstricted portion thereof. The finished lamp is automaticallydischarged by mechanism associated with the. tipping-off torch, thuscompleting one cycle. of operation of the apparatus. Means is alsoprovided for extracting the excess portion of the stem tube after thetippin -off operation.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description, reference being Ihad to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig-1 is a plan view, partlyin section, ofan apparatus embodying the features of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the center ofthe sealing-in section of the apparatus, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the center ofthe exhausting section of the apparatus, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing thedrive arrangement; c Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational viewof one of the sealing-in heads;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section, partly in elevation,- taken on line lofFig. 6;. A

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the "structure shown in 15 Figs. 6 and 7; i

Fig. 9' is a skeleton plan section on line 98 of Fig. 7, showing theleverage mechanism for operating the upper jaws of the sealing-in head;

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged fragmentary detail 20 sections on linesIll-I0 and H-H, respectively,

of Fig. 7; a

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cams for operating thesealing-in heads; i

-Fig. 13 is--a developed side elevational view 25 thereof; 7

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the bulbfeeding mechanism; I ,Fig. 15 is a plan section on line 15-! of Fig 14;

Fig. 16 is a section on line l6l6 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section throhgh the stemcenter device;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary detail .section on line 1 l8-|8 of Fig. 17; k35 Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly insection, of thetransfer. mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a planview of the transfer mechanism with portions of, thesealing-in and exhausting 4 units shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2l --2l of Fig. 19;

Fig. .22 is an enlarged line 22-22 of Fig. 21; I 6 Fig. 23 is a plansection on line 23-22-01 Fig. 22; v Fig. 24 is a fragmentary detailsection on line 24--24,of Fig. 22;

fragmentary set :tion on Fig. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary section online 25-25of Fig. 19;

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary rear elevational view partly in section on line28-28 of Fig. 19; Fig. 27 is a fragmentary detail section on line 21-21of m. 19:

Figs. 28. 29. and 30, are fragmentary detailed sections onlines 23-23,23-29, and 33-33, respectively, of Fig. 26;

Fig. 31 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through one of theexhausting units;-

Fig. 32 is a detail section on line 32-32 of Fig. 1;

4 Fig. 33 is a developed fragmentary elevational view of two exhaustingunits showing the cam for 33-33 of Fig. 34; Fig. 39 is an enlargedfragmentary section on line 33-33 of Fig. 34;

Fig. 40 is a fragmentary vertical section on line "-33 Fig. 34;

Fig. 41 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 41- of Fig. 40;

Fig. 421s an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the stemextracting mechanism;

Fig. 43 is a fragmentary vertical section on line "-43 of Fig. 42;

Fig. 44 is a fragmentary detail section on line 43- of Fig. 43;

Figs. 45 and 46 are detail views of a stem assembly and a companionbulb, respectively, which may be employed in the manufacture of electriclamps by the apparatus of the present inven-' tion, and

Figs. 4'1 to 49, inclusive, illustrate the progressive steps in themanufactureof electric lamps by the apparatus of the present invention.

The apparatus of the present invention may be employed to advantage inthe manufacture of small incandescent electric lamps of thetype employedas signal indicators in telephone systems. In accordance withthisembodiment of the in vention, a stem assembly 23 (Fig; 45)comprising a glass tube 2| having a filament 22 attached atone endthereof is inserted and sealed in a tubular glass bulb 23 (Fig. 46)having a semi-spherical closed end 23. The tube 2| is formed with anenlarged sphericalportion 26 located at'a predetermined distance fromthefilament end thereof for facilitating the sealing-in operation ashereinafter described. As shown in Fig. 4'1, the seal isformedwiththestem assemblyin aninverted position. Before exhausting, aconstricted portion 23v (Fig. 4'1) is formed in the stem just below theseal to facilitate the tipping-oil of the lamp after it has beenexhausted. A lamp 21 produced by the apparatus of the present inventionis shown in Fig. 49.

Referring now to thedrawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof,it will be'observed that the improved lamp making apparatus comprises asealing-in section 30 and an exhausting section 33 mounted side by sidein. a supporting frame comprising a bed plate 36 having suitablesupporting legs or standards 31. These two sections together with thevarious cooperating mechanisms will be described hereinafter in theorder in which each mechanism performs its parfunction.

-tatab1y mounted in a central bracket 32 attached to the bed plate 33.Rotatably mounted in the carrier 43 are a plurality of equi-distantlyspaced sealing-in heads designated, generally, by the numeral 44. In thepresent embodiment of the invention, nine of these sealing-in heads areprovided and they are arranged so as to be successively advanced to nineequi-distantly spaced positions by the intermittent rotation of thecarrier 43 in the manner hereinafter described. It will be noted thatthe nine positions are numbered from Ho 3, inclusive, in Figs. 1, 12,and 13 of the drawings for convenience in describing the operation ofthe apparatus.

A Geneva drive mechanism is provided for intermittently rotating thecarrier 33 to index the sealing-in heads to the successive positions.'Secured to the lower end of the spindle 3| is a Geneva wheel 43 whichis driven in the usual manner by a roller 31 (Fig. 5) carried by adriver 43 secured to a vertical shaft 33.- The shaft 33 is driventhrough beveled gears 3| and 32 from a horizontal shaft 33 which intin'n is driven. through elliptical gears and 33 from afmain drive andcam shaft 33 connected to an electric motor 51 through a conventionalgear reducingmechanism 63 (Fig. 2). The function of the so ellipticalgears and 33 is to alternately accelerate and decelerate the speed ofrotation of the shaft 53 whereby the indexing periodof' the apparatusis'shortened and the sealing-in and exhausting periods arecorrespondingly length- 35 ened. a I

Inasmuch as the sealing-in heads 33 are all of the same construction, adetailed description of one of them will be sufllcient to a completeunderstanding of the invention. Thus, each sealing-in head comprises avertical tubular frame member or head 63 (Fig. '1) rotatably mounted inthe carrier 33 and having diametrically opposed W vertical bearings 3|and 32 formed at the, I end thereof. Rotatably mounted in the bearings6| and 32 are vertical shafts 33 and 33, respectively, havingco-operating jaw members 33 and 61 secured to the upper ends thereof.The laws .66 and 31 are formed with cooperating semisphericalrecesses33-33 (Fig. 11) for accom-"so modating the sphericalportion 23. of thestem assembly 23, whereby the stem assembly is readily positioned,properly between the jaws. Arms 33 and 13 (Figs. 8 and 9) secured'jtothe lower ends of the shafts 33 and 33; respectively, are pivotslly 55'interconnected byalink 'll an 12 extending transversely from one endthereof and carrying a roller". By depressing the roller 13 to thedottedlineposltion showninl'ig. 9, the link .1l is moved to the'leftthereby opening the jaws 33 w ,and 61 against the tension of a'spring 13attached thereof. A compression spring 33 interposed be-' tween thelower end, of the chuck stem 33 and a shouldered lower end ofthe sleeve13 serves to yieldably move the chuck upwardly causing the spring jawsof the chuck to be pressed inwardly whereby the oscillatory motionof theshaft I83 in a well known manner to yieldably engage a lamp bulb 23inserted therebetween. The chuck stem 83 is provided with an. elongatedkey way 85 for accommodating the key' 88 whereby the chuck is rotatablewith the sleeve 18 and head 88. A disk or cam follower 88 is secured tothe lower end of the chuck stem 83 and a similar disk 88 is secured tothe lower end of the sleeve 18 (Fig. 7). The purpose of the constructionjust described will become apparent as the detailed descriptionprogresses.

While being indexed to position No. I the lower chuck 82 of eachsealing-in head is automatically opened by means of an annular cam 81suitably secured tothe bed plate 38 and disposedconcentrio with respectto the carrier 40 (Figs. 3; 12, and

'13). The disks 88 and 88 are spread apart by a portion 88 (Fig. 13) ofthe cam 81 against the action of the spring 84 (Fig. '7), thuspermitting the spring jaws of the chuck to open in a well known manner.

While dwelling at position No. I, a bulb 23 is automatically inserted inthe spring chuck 82 of each sealing-in head 44 by means of a bulbfeeding mechanism 88. This mechanism comprises a plate 84 is' providedwith a slot 85 arranged to register with the slot 83 when the plate ismoved to the right whereby the bulb drops to the upper surface of ahorizontal plate 88 attached to the hopper. When the plate 84. is movedto the left (Fig.16) the slot 85 registers with a U-shaped groove ordepression 81 formed in the plate. 88, which groove is offset withrespect to the slot '83 and communicates with a vertical guide tube 88attached to the plate 88. From the construction just described it willbe obvious that through the reciprocation of the plate 84 the bulbs aredischarged one at a time from the magazine 8| and drop in an invertedposition through the guide tube 88 into the open chuck 82 of thesealing-in head. The chuck 82 is provided with a plurality of springfingers 88, 88 (Fig. 10), the upperends of which project inwardly andserve to temporarily'support the bulb within the open chuck.

The magazine 8| is attached to the upper end of a tubular post'I88'which is secured at its lower end in a-bracket I 8| fixed tothe bedplate 38 (Fig. 14). Rotatably joumaied in the post I88 is a verticalshaft I83 having an arm I84 fixed to the lower end thereof. The arm I84is pivotally intel-connected through a link I85 to one end ofahorizcntally disposed slidable rod I", the other end of which ispivotally interconnected through slink I81 to an adjustable arm I88 ofabell crank lever I88 pivotally supported in a bracket II8 secured tothe underside of the bed-plate a.

1 sun I.

Another arm III of the bell crank lever I88 carrles a roller II3whichrides in a cam slot II4 other end to accommodate a roller IIIcarried upon a projecting portion I28 of plate 84 slidably mounted inthe bracket I 8|.

produces a reciprocatory motion of the plate 84.

Means is provided for automatically opening the upper jaws 88 and 81 ofeach sealing-in head upon arriving at position No. I to permit theinsertion of a bulb in the lower chuck 82 by the bulb feeding mechanism88. Secured at one endto the vertical shaft I83 of the bulb feeding.mechanism is an arm I22 (Figs. 14 and 15) which. is bifurcated at itsother end to accommodate a roller I23 carried by an arcuate shaped camI24 2 The cam I 24 is formed with elongated sliits I25| 25 which engageguide pins I 28I 28 secured to the bracket I8I (Fig. 15). It will beunderstood that the upper jaws'88 and 81 of the sealing-in head aremaintained open at position No. I due to the depression of the roller 13by the cam I24, asshown.

in dotted outline in Fig. 15.

As the sealing-in head is indexed from position No. I to position No.2-, the roller 13 rides past the end of the cam I24 (Fig. 15) permittingthe upper jaws 88 and 81 to close under the tension of the spring I5(Fig. 8). While dwelling atposition 'No. 2, an operator inserts a stemassembly 28 in an inverted position between the upper jaws 88 and 81 ofthe sealing-in head. A hand lever I28 (Figs. 1 and 2) positioned withinconvenient reach of the operator is provided for manually opening thejaws 88 and 81 toinsert a stem assembly therebetween. The hand lever I28is secured to a vertical shaft I38 rotatably journalled in a bracket I3Iattached to the bed plate 38. An arm I32 attached to the upper end ofthe shaft I38 is adapted to depress theroller 13 when the hand lever ismoved outwardly, thereby opening the upper jaw members in themanner-hereinbefore described. The operator properly positionsa stemassembly in an inverted position between the open jaw members andupon'releasing the hand lever I28, the stem asesmbly is securely grippedbetween the jaw members under the tension of the spring 15. j k.

With a bulb and stem assembly supported therein as described above, thesealing-in. head is indexed to position No. 3. While advancing to thisposition the lower chuck mbly is moved upwardly in such manner that thebulb 23 telescopes thestem assembly 28, as shown in Fig. 7.

This movement is effected by an inclined portion I33 of a cam slot I34formed in the cam 81 (Fig.

13) which moves the disk 88 upwardly whereby the lower chuck assembly iselevated to a position wherein the bulb 23 is properlypositioned forsealing with the stem assembly 28. The upper end of the bulb 23 engagesthe bottom side of the upper jaws 88' and-81 and is thereby presseddownwardly into the lower chuck 82 spreading the spring fingers I8outwardly as will be clearly understood by referring to Figs. 7 and 10.At this time the disk 88 is released by the cam 81 thus allowing thelower chuck to securely grip the I bulb under the. tension of the spring84.

'Before arriving atposition- No. 3, rotation of the sealing-in head isautomatically started through mechanism which will presently bedescribed. Keyed to the shaft 88 is a bevel gear I88 which meshes with abevel gear I31 (Figs. 3 and 5) secured to the .lower end of a verticalshaft I38. A gear I38 fixed upon the upper end of the shaft I38 mesheswith a gear I48'formed integral with a sleeve I42 freely rotatable aboutthe center bracket 42. A gear I43 rotatable with the sleeve I42 mesheswith a pinion I44 carried by the sealjust described, it will be obviousthat the pinion f :4 is continuously drivenfrom the cam shaft is shownin m. '1, the pinion m is mounted so as to rotate freely around abushing Ill keyed to the tubular head I. Attached to the 1 bottom faceof the pinion m is a leather friction ring I41 which is adapted'to beengaged by.

a clutch plate Ill threaded upon a collar lls clamped to the -tubularhead i2. It will be noted that the clutch plate I is provided withcoarse internal left hand threads for enga ing wrre sponding extemalthreadsforms on the collar I, whereby a relatively slight rotarymovement of the clutch plate I in a,clockwise directln (Fig. 12) causesthe clutch plate to. operatively engage the friction ring I41, thusdriving the 20. The clutch plate III is normally held in an engagedpodtion by a spring "I52 (Fig. 6)

' I (Fig.8) whichpasses through a tube and positively preventingrotation of the sealingin As the sealing-in head is indexedfrom Yposition No. 2 to position No. 3, the clutch roller I52 rides oil theend of the drum cam lil (Fig. 12) whereupon the clutch is automaticallyen:- gaged under the tension of the spring-I52 thus starting therotation of the sealing-in head, which rotation continues throughpositions 2 to I, inclusive. As indicated bythe arrows in Figs. 8 and12, the sealing-in hcadjrI-rotated in'a.

clockwise direction, which direction of rotation o obviously tends tonormally hold the clutch. encaged due to the left hand threadconstruction of the clutch plate I, as described above. While dwelling.at positions Nos. 2, l, I, and 6, the glass bulb 22 and the companionstem assembly 20 are gradually heated to a sealin'g-tem-' perature bymeans of a plurality of gas burners Ill, I" (Fig. 1) arranged inpairsand adapted to direct diametrically opposed sealing fires upon a therotating bulb and stem assembly at the point where the seal is to bemade. The burners I54 are connected in any suitable manner to a gassupply source (not shown).-the inner burners. m d to a upp y th ou h a ppe extending through the hollow spindle II. a I

At position No. 2, a gasburner I51 (Figs. 1 and 2) directs a gas flameupon the upper end of the stem'tubefor the purpose of glazing androunding-v the edges of the glass to prevent cutting of the'rubbertubing when the lampis transferred to an, exhaust position of theexhausting section 2', as hereinafter describedin detail. The burnez IIIis connected to thegassupply by means of. pipe Ill (Fig. 3) extendingthrough the tube I52.

At positions Nos. 5 and Jets of air are blownby air nozzlesIll-fillings. 1, 2,-and 3) through the upper end of the stem tubetoprevent the molten glass inthe seal from collapsing. The-air males.I62 are connected by suitable pip n IGI to 'a sourceof compressed air(not shown).

The seal is.completed at position No. 6, after which thesealing-in headis indexed-to, position No. I.: where'a pin I ,(Fig. 1'7) of a diameterthan the inside diameter of the stem tube isautomatically insertedthrough the entire length of the stem for the purpose of straighteningand centering the internal end of the stem with respect to the bulb,while the seal is still plastic, The mechanism for operating the scentering pin I is shown in detail in Figs. 17 and 18. As shown in Fig.17, the pin I" is carried by a block I" 's'lidably journaled in avertical guideway I of a bracket I61 secured to the upper end of ahollow post I68 which is supported at its lower end in a bracket I'llattached to the bedplate 36. The block Ill is slotted as indicated atIII to accommodate a rounded end "2 of a lever lllwhich'is pivotedintermediate its ends in thebracket WI. The opposite end I'll of thelever I12 is also rounded and fits loosely in a slot I" of aguide'blo'ck III slidably mounted in the bracket I61. The block I" isattached to the upper end of a vertical rod I" which extends through thetubular post I" and is adapted to slide freely in the bracket I". Aspring I 22 encircling the rod I" and interposed between the bracket"land a collar I2I attached to the rod, serves to normally urge the rodupwardly which movement is transmitted through the lever I12 25 to movethe centering pin I82 downwardly through the stem tube 2I of the lampassembly, thus straightening and centering the internal end of the stemassembly with respect to the bulb 22.

The withdrawal of the centering pin III at the proper time isaccomplished by a cam I22 keye'd to the cam shaft 2 (1 1g; 18). The camI22 ensages a roller I carried at the lower end of a yoke I25 attachedto the lower end of the rod Ill. The yoke; Il'i is provided with anelongated vertical slot I for loosely accommodating a collar I21 looselymounted on the shaft 22. Thecam I 23 is designed to move the rod -IIldownwardly against the action of the spring Ill, which move:-

ment is transmitted through the lever I12 to move '40 the centering pinI83 upwardly, whereby it is withdrawn from the stem tube. I

While dwelling at position'No. 1, a; pair of diametrically oppoud gasburners Ill-l (Fla-1) direct fires upon the stem tube just above theseal to render that portion of the stem plastic. In indexing fromposition No. I to position No. I, the'lower chuck 22 is pulled downslightly by a drop I22 (Fig. 13) in the cam slot III which controls thechuck elevation. This causes a constricted section 25 to be drawn in thestill plastic portion of the sternv just above the seal whichfacilitates the tipping-0120f the lamp after it has been exhausted. 7

Position No. 2 provides time for the seal and '55 constriction to coolbelow theplastic temperature of glass. At position No. 2, the lampassembly is automatically unloaded; inverted, and inserted in anuprightposition into an exhausting unit of the exhausting section 35 bymeans of a transf erarm I25. Thistransferarmisclearlyshownin Figs. 19 to30, inclusive. Referring particularly to Figs. 19, 21, and 22, it willbe observed that the transfer arm comprises a tubular horizontal por-'tion I22, a tubular vertical portion I9), and a semi-spherical removablecover plate 200.. Die

vertical portion I29 of the transfer arm is rigidly .clamped to theupper end of a vertical sleeve 222 which is slidable and rotatable in abracket 222 secured to the bed plate. A pinion'2l4 (Fig:

21) is slidably keyed to the lower end of the sleeve 202 and isadaptedto be driven by a horizontal rack III slidably iournalled in a housing2" at- I I tached t0 the bracket2l3- The rack 22' is piv.

n nnected to one endof a link 2" (H8.

19) which is pivoted at its other end to a vertical cam lever 209 at apoint intermediate the ends thereof (Fig. 29) The lever 209 is pivotedat its upperend upon a shaft 2| I supported in brackets 2 l2 and 213(Fig. 26) secured to the underside of the bed plate 36. A roller 2l5carried upon the lower end of the cam lever 20!) rides in a cam groove2I6 of a cam 2| (Fig. 29) mounted upon and adapted to be rotated withthe cam shaft 58 through a manually controlled clutch mechanism, ashereinafter described.

The cam groove 2 I6 is designed so that during each complete revolutionof the cam shaft 58, the

transfer arm I95 makes one complete excursionwhich maybe traced asfollows: Starting from a normal or intermediate position as shown inFig.

20, the transfer arm is turned first in a clockwise direction to aposition wherein it receives a lamp assembly from unloading position No.9 of the sealing-in section 30, then in a counter-clockwise direction toa position wherein it inserts the lamp assembly into a loading positionof the exhausting section 35, and then in a clockwise direction to itsnormal or intermediate position.

In indexing from position No. 8 to position No.

9, the lower chuck 82 of the sealing-in head is antomatically opened andlowered by the cam 81 (Fig. 13) and rotation of the sealing-in head isautomatically stopped by the cam ll (Fig. 12) in the manner hereinbeforedescribed, thus permitting the transfer mechanism to swing into positionto grip the lamp assembly, which at this time is supported solely by theupper jaws 66 and 61 of the sealing-in head. The bulb portion of thelamp assembly is gripped between two jaws 220 and 22I (Fig. 23) formedupon the ends of adjacent parallel bars 222 and 223, respectively, thejaw bars being slidably mounted in a sleeve 2 25 rotatably journaled inthe horizontal portion I98 of the transfer arm. The jaw bars 222 and 223are provided with co-operating rack teeth 226- 226 adapted to engageopposite sides of a pinion 22! carried by the sleeve 225. The jaws 220and 221 are normally held closed under the tension of a spring 228 whichtends to move the jaw 220 inwardly, or to the left (Fig. 23) whichmovement is transmitted through the pinion 221 to move the jaw 22loutwardly or to the right. A disk 229 is secured to the inwardlyprojecting end of the jaw bar 222 and. is adapted to be engaged by a'roller 230 eccentrically carried by an oscillatory plate 23l attached tothe upper end of a vertical sleeve 232 rotatably journaled in the outersleeve 202.

The mechanism for oscillating the plate 23I to operate the jaws 22.0 and22! will now be described. Slidably keyed to the lower end of the innersleeve 232 is a pinion 233 (Fig. 21) adapted to be oscillated by areciprocable rack 234 slidably mounted in the housing 206. The rack 234is pivotally connected through a link 235 (Fig. 19) to the lower end ofa vertical cam lever 236 (Fig. 28) which is pivoted at its upper endupon the shaft 2| I. A roller 238 carried by the cam lever 236,intermediate the ends thereof, rides in a cam groove 239 of a cam 240mounted upon the cam shaft 58 and adapted to be driven therefrom througha. manually controlled clutch mechanism, as hereinafter described. Thecam groove 239 is designed to produce one complete reciprocation of therack 234 for each revolution of the cam shaft 58, and it will beunderstood that the reciprocatory motion of the rack 234 is transthejaws 220 and HI of the transfer mechanism.

As the transfer arm moves toward theunloading position No. 9 of thesealing-in unit, the sleeve 232 is rotated in a clockwise direction(Fig. 23) through the mechanism above described, the 5 roller 230engaging the disk 229, thereby moving the jaw 220 outwardly against thetension of the spring 228. This movement is transmitted through thepinion 221 to move the jaw 22| inwardly, as will be clearly understoodby referring I to Fig. 23. .Thus, upon arriving at position No. 9, thejaws 220 and 22! are held open by the roller 230 against the tension ofthe spring 228, thereby permitting the transfer arm to swing intoposition to receive the lamp assembly. A dwell portion 24l of the camgroove 2; (Fig. 29) causes the transfer arm to dwell for a moment at theunloading position No. 9 of the sealing-in unit while the roller plate23l is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the cam 240,permitting the jaws 220 and 221 to close upon the lamp assembly, underthe tension of the spring 228. 'A dwell portion 242 of the cam groove239 (Fig. 28) holds the jaws-partially open, allowing a small clearancebetween the jaws and the lamp assembly until the upper jaws 66 and 61are opened to release the lamp assembly. During this time, the upperjaws 66 and 6'! of the sealing-in head are opened by the engagement ofthe cam I24 with the roller 13 (Fig. 15), whereupon the lamp assemblydrops upon a bottom plate 244 attached to the jaw 220 (Fig. 22) Thetransfer jaws 220 and 22l are then permitted to close under the tensionof the spring 228 to securely grip the lamp assembly, and at the sametime, the transfer arm is turned in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig.20)' carrying the lamp assembly to the loading position of theexhausting section of the apparatus. During this movement of thetransfer arm, the lamp as- 40 sembly is inverted or turned through 180through the following mechanism: Formed at the inner end of the sleeve225 is an intermittent bevel pinion 245 .(Fig. 24) which is adapted tobe intermittently driven by an intermittent bevel gear 246 secured tothe upper end of a vertical shaft 241 slidably journalled in the innersleeve 232. The shaft 241 is restrained against rotation by a key- 248v(Fig. 21) secured to the lowerend of a guide sleeve 249 attached to thehousing 206. From the construction just described, it will be obviousthat upon the movement of the transfer arm toward the loading positionof the exhausting section, the bevel pinion 245 is rotated by thestationary bevel gear 246 in such manner as to turn the jaws 220 and 22lin a clockwise direction (Figs. 22 to 24). The pinion 245 and gear 246are provided with a sufiicient number of teeth to turn the jaws throughexactly 180. It will be understood, also, that during the returnmovement of the transfer arm the direction of rotation of the pinion 245is reversed and thus the jaws 220 and 22l are turned in a reversedirection, thereby returningto their normal positions in the same manneras described above.

. Upon approaching and after arriving at the loading position of theexhausting unit, the transfer arm is lowered sufficiently to insert thei lamp assembly, stem downward, in a rubber tubing 25! (Fig. 31) whichis connected to the ex.- hausting system hereinafter described. Themechanism for lowering and elevating the transfer arm will be clearlyunderstood by referring to Figs. 19, 21, 25, and 30. The lower end ofthe outer sleeve 202 is formed with circular rack teeth 252 forengagement with a pinion 253 (Figs. 19, 21, and 25) rotatably. mountedin the housing 206. The pinion 253 is oscillated bya reciprocable rack254 pivotally connected through a link 255 to the lower end of avertical cam lever 256 which is pivoted at its upper end upon the shaft2 (Fig. 30). A roller 258 carried by the cam lever 256 intermediate theends thereof rides in 10 9. came groove 259 of a cam 260 mounted uponthe cam shaft 58 and adapted to be driven therefrom through a manuallycontrolled clutch mechanism, as hereinafter described. The cam groove259 is designed to produce one complete reciprocation of the rack 254for each revolution of the cam shaft 58, and it will be understoodthatthe reciprocatory motion of the rack 254 is transmitted through thepinion 253 and outer sleeve 202 to lower and elevate the transfer arm atthe loading position of the exhausting section in themanner hereinbeforedescribed. By means of a spacer sleeve 282 and suitable thrust collars263 and 264 (Fig. 21) the shaft 241 and inner sleeve 232 arelongitudinally movable with the outer sleeve 202 whereby a fixedlongitudinal relationship is maintained therebetwe'en. The transfer armdwells for a moment at the end of its downward travel to allow the jaws220 and 22l to be opened by the roller 230 through the movement of theoscillatory plate 23L After the jaws have been opened, the transfer armis elevated to its original position and is simultaneously swung to theleft to receive another lamp assembly from the unloading position of thesealing-in section. From the above description it will be apparent thatthe transfer mechanism is operated from the cam shaft 58 in synchronismwith the sealingin and exhausting section of the apparatus by the camsH8, 240 and 260. As shown in Fig. 2'1, these cams are all keyed to asleeve 266 loosely mounted on the cam shaft 58 and provided at one endwith an external annular flange 261. The flanged end of the sleeve 262is recessed as indicated at 268 to fit loosely over a clutch collar 269pinned to the cam shaft 58. The collar 269 is notched as shown at 210(Fig. 19) to accommodate a shoulder 2" of a clutch pin 212 slidablyjournalled in the flange portion of the sleeve 266. A spring 214 servesto normally hold the clutch pin engaged with the notched collar 269whereby the cam carrying sleeve 266 is normally driven with the camshaft58.

Manually controlled means is provided for .dis- I engaging the clutchpin 212 when it is desired to render the transfer mechanism inoperative.Pivoted upon the shaft 2 is a detent 216 (Figs.

19 and 26) which is connected by a rod 211 to a knob 218 locatedpn thefront side of the machine within convenient reach of the operator. Thedetent 216 is normally held in an inoperative position, as shown in Fig.19, by a leaf spring 280 adapted to engage a notch 28! formed in theconnecting rod 211. When it is desired to render the transfer mechanisminoperative, as for example, when the operator observes an imperfectlysealed'lampin the cooling position No. 8 of the sealing-in section, theknob 218 ispulled outwardly thereby moving the detent 216 to the left(Fig. 19) wherein it engages a roller 283 carried at the outwardlyprojecting end of the clutch pin 212. Upon engaging the detent 216, theclutch pin is depressed against the action of the spring 216, therebydisengaging the cam carrying sleeve 266 from the continuously rotatingcam shaft 58 and thus rendering the transfer mechanism inoperative.-

The above described construction is such that the transfer mechanismcomes to rest at an in- -termediate position as shown in Fig. 20. While5 dwelling at this position, a cam lug 285 (Figs. 19 and 29) carriedupon the periphery of the transfer cam 2 l8 engages a plunger 286 of anair valve 281 in a high pressure air line 288 and holds the valve openduring the cycle in which the transfer 10 mechanism is inoperative. Asecond plunger type air valve 289 (Fig. 26) connected in series with theone controlled by the transfer cam 2I8 is intermittently opened by a cam290 carried upon the cam shaft 58, the cam 290 being designed so 15 thatthe two valves are opened at different times during the normal operationof the transfer mechanism. The outlet 29l of the compressed air line 288is located directlyunder the lower chuck sleeve of the sealing-in headin the final or unloading position, as shown in dotted outline in Fig.20. ,When the transfer mechanism is rendered inoperative, as describedabove, a blast of high pressure air is directed through the lower chucksleeve 83 of the sealing-in head, blowing 25 the imperfect lamp assemblyinto an overhead goose neck tube 292 (Figs. 1 and 2) through which itmay drop into a suitable receptacle or waste pan (not shown).

The exhausting section 35 of the apparatus 30 will now be described. Asshown in Fig. 4, a circular carrier plate 300 is rigidly clamped bybolts 30|30| to a Geneva wheel 302 which, in turn, is rotatable upon atubular bearing 304 secured to the bed plate 36. The Geneva wheel 302 is35 intermittently rotated in the usual manner by a roller 306 carried bya driver 301 attached to the upper end of a vertical shaft 308. A bevelgear 309 keyed to the lower end of the shaft 308 meshes with a similargear 310 secured to the shaft 54. 40. ,From the construction andarrangement just de-v scribed, it will be understood that the carrierplate 330 is intermittently rotated in synchronism with the sealing-insection of the apparatus.

The carrier plate 300 is provided near its pe- 45 riphery with aplurality of equi-distantly spaced circular apertures 3 l2, 3|2corresponding in number to the number of exhausting units of theapparatus. In the present embodiment of the invention, twenty-fourexhausting units are pro- 50 vided and it will be understood that eachof the exhausting units is indexed through twenty-four successivepositions by the Geneva drive mechanism above described.

Inasmuch as the exhausting units are of simi- 55 lar construction, it isbelieved that a detailed 1 .description of one'of these units will besuflicient to a complete understanding of the invention. As shown inFig. 31, each of the exhausting units comprises a bushing 313 mounted inan aperture 60 3 I 2 of the carrier plate 300 and restrained againstrotation therein. A cap 3 I4 is threaded upon the upper end of thebushing 3l3 and is centrally apertured as indicated at 3 I 5 to looselyaccommodate the stem portion of a lamp assembly when 65 insertedtherethrough by the transfer mechanism. Supported in the upper end ofthe bushing'3i3 and extending upwardly into the cap 3| 4 is a rubbertubing 25l which is connected by a nipple 3 l8 to a rubber tubing 319,the latter being 70 connected through a trap 320 (Fig. 4), a rubbertubing 32l and a nipple 322 to a port 323 of a rotatable upper valveplate 325 arranged to be rotated with the carrier 300 through one ormore drive pins 326. It will be understood that the 75 upper valve plate325 is provided with a plurality of equi-distantly spaced ports 323corresponding in number to the number of exhausting units of theapparatus and that each exhausting unit communicates with acorresponding port 323. The ports 323 terminate in the lower face of theupper valve plate 325. At the first, second, twenty-third, andtwenty-fourth positions of the exhausting section of the apparatus,hereinafter 10. referred to as the loading, contact-closing,tipping-ofi, and stem extracting positions, respectively, the ports 323are closed oil with a vacuum tight seal by an imperforate portion of astationarylower valve plate 328. In the remaining twenty positions (3 to22, inclusive) the lamp is evacuated, and at each, of these positionsthe ports 323 of the upper valve plate 325 communicate with similarports 321 of the stationary lower valve plate 328. The ports 321communicate through suitable tubing 330 (Fig. 4) with a series 'ofevacuating pumps (not shown) connected in such manner that ten stages ofevacuation are provided for each lamp.

The valve plates 325 and 328 are hardened, ground, and lapped to avacuum tight surface on their engaging faces and are supplied withcastor 'oil through two concentric oil grooves 33l33l to insure avacuumtight seal at all times. A large oil cup 332 supplies oil to the groovesin the lower valve plate and a small oil cup 333 is connected to thegrooves of the upper vaive plate to indicate the oil level.

Associated with each exhausting unit is an electrical contact mechanism335 through which the required voltage is communicated from a voltagecontrol panel (not shown) for heating the lamp filament after the lamphas been partially evacuated. As shown inFigs. 31. and 33, the contactmechanism 335 comprises a pair of contact 40' arms 336 and 331 securedto shafts 338 and 339,

respectively, the shafts being rotatably journalled in a bracket 34!)attached to the carrier 300 (Fig. 32). A gear 342 keyed to the shaft 338meshes with a similar gear 343 rotatable with the shaft 339. Arms 344and 345 are secured at one. end to the shafts 333 and 339, respectively,and

are interconnected at their opposite ends by a spring 341 in such mannerthat the contact arms 336 and 331 are normally held closed as shown atthe right (Fig. 33). When in this position, the cbntact arms engage thelead-in wires 350 (Fig. 47) of the lamp assembly, the proper location ofthe lead-in wires having been predetermined when the stem assembly wasinserted between the upper jaws 66 and 61 of the sealingin head.

At the loading position of the exhausting section of the apparatus, aroller 35! carried upon the free end of the arm 344 is held depressed bya stationary cam-352 designed to hold the contact arms open against theaction of the spring 341, as shown at the left (Fig. 33). In indexingfrom the loadingpositionto the next position, the roller 35l rides oithe end of the 65 am 352 thereby permitting the contact arms 36 and 331to close upon the lead-in wires 350 of the lamp' assembly under thetension of the spring 341.

The contact arm 335 is grounded through the machine framework and thecontact'arm 331 is insulated from the machine and is connected by aninsulated conductor 354(Fig. 4) to a corre- 355 are adapted to makecontact with fixed contacts 351'of a stationary distributor plate 358through which an electrical circuit of the desired voltage is completedthrough the lamp filament to illuminate the lamp in several-final stagesof 5 the exhaustingcycle. This is for the purpose of driving offoccluded gases from the lampfilament.

Supported above the exhausting section of the apparatus is anelectrically heated even 360 10 through which the lamps are passed andtherebyextemally heated during the process of exhausting for the purposeof driving off occluded gases from the interior surface of the glass. Aconstant temperature is maintained within the 15 oven which is justbelow'the temperature at which the glass would become plastic andcollapse.

Each of the exhausting units is provided with a pinch valve 36l forclosing the exhaust passage thereof when the transfer arm fails to :5insert a lamp therein or when. an imperfectly sealed or broken lamp isinserted therein. The" pinch valve '36l comprises a pivoted arm 362(Figs. 35 and 36) and a cooperatin pivoted cam lever 363. When the camlever 363 is swung to :5

the left, as shown in Fig. 36, the rubber tubing 251 of thecorresponding exhausting unit is compressed between the arm 362 and arounded bead 364 formed on the carrier plate 300, thus -closing theexhaust passage through the tubing 25l. 36 When the transfer mechanismhas failed to load a lamp in an exhausting unit, the corresponding pinchvalve 36| is closed by a cam 365 secured to the outer sleeve 202 of thetransfer mechanism. The cam 365 engages-a roller 366 carried at the .i 3outer end of the pinch valve lever 363, whereby the latter is swung tothe left (Figs. 35 and 36), thus compressing the rubber tubing 25l inthe manner described above. 7 p

In the first stages of the exhausting cycle, a 4 mercury monometer orleak-detector (not,

' shown) is arranged to close an electrical control circuit of asolenoid magnet 361 (Fig. 1) if the pressure in the lamp is. such as toindicate the presence ofan imperfectly sealed, broken, or 3 leaky lamp..Undersuch conditions, the solenoid 361 closes the pinch valve 36l of theexhausting unit containing theimperfect lamp.-

After the lamp has passed through the twenty exhausting positions. (.3to 22, inclusive), it 50 emerges from the oven 366 and is indexed to thetipping-01f position (No. 23). In indexing to, this position, thecontact arms 336 and 331 are opened by the cam 352 in the mannerhereinbefore described. While dwelling at this position, 55,

.a tipping-off mechanism 316 fuses off the stem at the previouslyconstricted portion 25 thereof and discharges the lamp through a. tube31! 1 (Figs. land 2) into asuitable receptacle (not shown).

The tipping-off mechanism 316 is shown in detail in Figs. 34 to 41,inclusive. A circular torch 312 having a plurality of diametricallyopposed gas burners 313, 313 (Figs. 34 and 37) is carried upon the endof a transverse arm 314 of 65 a tubular bracket 315 attached to theupper end of a vertical sleeve 316. The sleeve 316 is slidably keyed ina tubular guide 311.rigidly secured in a bracket 313 attached to the bedplate 36. a

nected through a collar 319 and a yoke 33!! to one end of a lever 33lwhich is pivoted intermediate its ends in a. bracket 38 2. attached tothe underside'of thebed plate '36. A roller 333 carried upon theopposite end ofthe lever 33! rides

